Episode 30: Why Your Law Firm Needs An Executive Team

Summary

In this episode, Zinda Law Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin Tully, sits down with Zinda Law Group CEO and founder, Jack Zinda and talk about assembling and running an effective executive team.

Discussed in this Episode:

What is the role of an executive team?
Executive team evolving as your business evolves
Topics of conversation
Meeting decorum
Avoiding blindspots

What is the Role of an Executive Team?

Jack talks about the various types of people who should be a part of your executive team. These people are typically department heads or leaders in their specific area of the business. While it may be uncommon for law firms to have an executive team, they can be powerful tools to keep each other accountable and moving forward in the same direction.

Executive Team Evolving as Your Business Evolves

It can be lonely at the top. Installing an executive team will not only allow you share the burdens, but also workshop ideas and celebrate the victories together. Even if your organization is only 7-10 people, an executive team will ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.

Topics of Conversation

“Every executive team meeting, you want to cover at least the main KPIs of your organization”. Revisiting your primary objectives is a great way to make sure that you’re on track or to course correct if needed. Sharing personal or KPI victories is a great way to start the meeting on a positive note. Sending out potential topics of conversation beforehand can give the team time to prepare.

Meeting Decorum

Not everyone on your executive team is going to be the same personality or have the same primary topics of discussion. If your meeting contains both lawyers and non-laywers, you must learn each other’s communication styles and give space for your team. Not just try to win the debate. If you’re the CEO, delegating responsibility is important. It may not be in your best interest to be in charge of the agenda. You should be an active participant as well.

Avoiding Blindspots

As your organization scales up, the probability of dysfuction or systematic problems increases. Putting systems in place to continually check the health of your business is crucial to thriving. If you’re noticing consistent patterns of poor performance, the best thing you can do as an executive team is to avoid blaming the single person and look at the bigger picture together.